Part of the reason we want to save manual transmissions is because they’re fun to operate. But there’s another plus: The things that break in a manual often do not stop a car dead in its tracks, which is good if you’re crossing the Sahara on your way to Dakar. Let’s say, for example, that the connection between the third pedal and the clutch fails, keeping the clutch engaged. Follow these steps and you won’t have to call a tow truck.